AstroSynthesis v3.0 (UPGRADE)

>>> This is an upgrade edition for owners of previous versions of AstroSynthesis. This edition of AstroSynthesis upgrades versions 1.0 or 2.0 to the latest, 3.0. You do not need this upgrade if you already have AstroSynthesis 3.0 <<<

New features of AstroSynthesis v3.0 Whether you are mapping local space, or an extensive interstellar empire, AstroSynthesis 3.0 will give you the tools you need to create your sci-fi universe!

Check out some of AstroSynthesis 3.0’s new features:

New Integrated Orbital Display The orbital display is now seamlessly integrated into the main window, allowing you to quickly switch back and forth between the 3D star map display and orbital views.

Multiple Star System Display Perhaps the most requested feature to date – the orbital view now displays 3D renditions of multiple star systems! This includes both ‘simple’ multiple star systems, and complex Far Multiple systems that themselves contain one or more Close Multiple systems.

Flexible System Generator The star system generator now lets you select the relative frequencies of occurrence for each type of stellar body. So you can, for example, tell the generator to generate more gas giants, or fewer multiple star systems.

Terraforming The amount of ‘terraforming’ – alterations to a planet to make it hospitable – can now be controlled during system generation. You can opt to have the generator perform no terraforming, making hospitable worlds rare, or you can have it perform a lot of terraforming, placing hospitable worlds in nearly any system that can feasibly sustain them. Or select any of the levels of terraforming in between.

Fixed-Number Star System Generation In addition to being able to generate a map of a specific size, you can now select a specific number of star systems to generate, and let the program automatically size the sector.

On the Fly Surface Map Generation As soon as a terrestrial or gas giant planet is selected in the system data display, a surface map for the planet is immediately generated. You no longer need to right click and request the surface map be generated. In addition, the speed of surface map generation has been greatly increased, and the processing can now take full advantage of multi-core processors.

3D Models Ships, Fleets, Space Stations, and other bodies are now displayed as 3D models, rather than simple images. You can pan and rotate around them, and zoom closer for a better look at any angle! And its easy to add your own 3D models. (several formats supported)

Anti-Aliased Graphics AstroSynthesis 3.0 supports hardware based anti-aliasing, and will enable it if your graphics card supports such functionality (most do). This allows the program to generate higher quality and smoother graphics and effects.

Natural Language Search AstroSynthesis 3.0 supports an enhanced searching system called Natural Language Search. This new feature allows you to search your sector map by querying virtually any attribute - such as name, population, body type, atmosphere, political affiliation, gravity, and even custom fields – using simple English-like terms.

Sector Date and Time Tracking AstroSynthesis now tracks a sector-wide date and time. This is great for keeping track of your party's travel times, and integrates directly with the updated Travel Calculator

Travel Calculator You can now use the travel calculator to calculate travel times for interstellar travel. In addition, the scripting API has been updated to allow plugins to work with the travel calculator for game/milieu specific interstellar travel modes.

Video Recording / Movie Making Movie creation has been completely re-written for version 3. Rather than simply being able to create movie files from certain pre-defined animations, you can now record all your actions within the program to a .WMV movie file. Thus you can record directly to a video file as you zoom and pan around your map, select systems, and even as you switch back and forth between the sector and orbital views!

New Storage Engine AstroSynthesis now uses a fully featured, extensively tested SQL database engine for storing its data. This allows for very large sector maps and increased reliability when storing your map. In addition, since the files are a common database format, its easy to access your sector map’s data in external scripts or programs.

Automatic Updater There is a new, built-in software updater which will notify you whenever updates to AstroSynthesis are available, and can also automatically download and apply program updates.

Better Windows 7/ Vista support AstroSynthesis has been updated to work better with Windows Vista and Windows 7.

I have been using Astro Synthesis for some time and recently upgraded to version 3.0. It is a great tool. My group is playing an interstellar 4X game that used to be PBM. We get the stellar coordinates from the game database file and paste them into [...]

As with all the NBOS software that I have bought over the last couple of years, I am extremely happy with the new version of AstroSynthesis v.3.0. I think the best new feature is "On the Fly Surface Map Generation" in my opinion. I love to cl [...]

AstroSynthesis V3 has some great enhancements like the 3D models for spaceships and you can add your own to. I have not fully explored the new version but I do like the tabs that let you specify a FWE file to use and or an image file to use, the only [...]

A must-have upgrade. Smoother movement, easier on the eyes, and much more stable for me. For anyone that has an interest in sci-fi and/or other space enthusiasts, I fully recommend it. The only drawback I could find is with regards to it being "wi [...]

AstroSynthesis v2.X was an excellent three dimensional mapping program, but v3.0 is even better. It does everything it says on the tin. Everything in the new version of AstroSynthesis seems improved over 2.X. Switching from interstellar views to [...]

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